Location of Cedros Island and Islas San Benito in Baja Californiaannotated Space Shuttle photo of Cedros Island, with Islas San Benito in the upper left
The group consists of three barren islands, with a total area of 3.899 km2, and is surrounded by rocks and patches of kelp. The census of 2001 recorded a population of two on Benito del Oeste (West Benito); the other islands are uninhabited.[1]
Geography and ecology
Benito del Oeste (West Benito, 2.6 km2) is the westernmost and largest island of the group. It appears as a plateau with a mound rising 600 ft (202 m) high near the center. A lighthouse tower, 4 m high, stands in the southern part of the island. The main lighthouse, a prominent, 17 m high tower with a dwelling, stands near the northwest extremity of the island. Rocas Pinaculo, two steep-to rocks, lie 1.6 km west of Benito del Oeste.[2]
The vegetation consists mainly of low shrubs and herbs as well as some large cacti (Cylindropuntia prolifera, C. ramosissima[3]). There are few land animals and no native mammals. Birds are moderately abundant due to the islands' barrenness, but Cassin's auklet is rather plentiful at breeding time.
^Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (2007): Principales resultados por localidad 2005 (ITER) 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine ["Principal results of the 2005 census by locality"] [in Spanish]. Retrieved 2007-OCT-10.
^ abNational Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2004): Sector 2 – West coast of Baja California. In: PUB153 Sailing Directions (Enroute): West Coasts of Mexico & Central America (10th ed.): 9–18. ProStar Publications, Inc. ISBN1-57785-559-0
^ abCalifornia/Mexico Island Conservation Database (2007): Plant accounts: Guadalupe Island 2007-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2007-OCT-10.
^Thayer, John E.; Bangs, Outram (1907). "Birds Collected by W. W. Brown, Jr., on Cerros, San Benito and Natividad Islands in the Spring of 1906, with Notes on the Biota of the Islands" (PDF). Condor. 9 (3): 77–81. doi:10.2307/1361136. hdl:2027/hvd.32044072249907. JSTOR 1361136.
islas, benito, pacific, ocean, west, coast, mexican, state, baja, california, west, cedros, island, they, part, cedros, island, delegación, subdivision, ensenada, municipality, baja, california, location, cedros, island, inbaja, californiaannotated, space, shu. The Islas San Benito lie in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the Mexican state of Baja California 25 km west of Cedros Island They are part of the Cedros Island delegacion a subdivision of Ensenada municipality Baja California Location of Cedros Island and Islas San Benito inBaja Californiaannotated Space Shuttle photo of Cedros Island with Islas San Benito in the upper leftThe group consists of three barren islands with a total area of 3 899 km2 and is surrounded by rocks and patches of kelp The census of 2001 recorded a population of two on Benito del Oeste West Benito the other islands are uninhabited 1 Geography and ecology EditBenito del Oeste West Benito 2 6 km2 is the westernmost and largest island of the group It appears as a plateau with a mound rising 600 ft 202 m high near the center A lighthouse tower 4 m high stands in the southern part of the island The main lighthouse a prominent 17 m high tower with a dwelling stands near the northwest extremity of the island Rocas Pinaculo two steep to rocks lie 1 6 km west of Benito del Oeste 2 Benito del Centro Central Benito 0 4 km2 28 18 30 N 115 33 54 W 28 30833 N 115 56500 W 28 30833 115 56500 and Benito del Este East Benito 0 9 km2 28 18 03 N 115 32 25 W 28 30083 N 115 54028 W 28 30083 115 54028 the other two islands lie close east of Benito del Oeste and are separated by Canal de Peck a deep passage just 200 ft c 65 m wide 2 Benito del Este is characterized by four well defined hills up to 421 ft c 140 m high Benito del Centro is low and flat with a hill 82 ft 25 m high rising near its eastern end The vegetation consists mainly of low shrubs and herbs as well as some large cacti Cylindropuntia prolifera C ramosissima 3 There are few land animals and no native mammals Birds are moderately abundant due to the islands barrenness but Cassin s auklet is rather plentiful at breeding time Endemism Edit Due to the islands remoteness several endemic taxa have evolved here Animals 4 San Benito side blotched lizard Uta stansburiana stellata San Benito house finch Carpodacus mexicanus mcgregori extinctDisappeared c the 1940s mainly due to overhunting by biological specimen collectors San Benito sparrow Passerculus rostratus sanctorum or Passerculus sandwichensis sanctorum Plants 3 Cryptantha patula only on West Benito Dudleya linearis only on West Benito Hemizonia streetsii West and East Benito Malva pacifica all islands Mammillaria neopalmeri West and East Benito Senecio benedictus only on West BenitoReferences Edit Islands portal Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informatica 2007 Principales resultados por localidad 2005 ITER Archived 2011 06 13 at the Wayback Machine Principal results of the 2005 census by locality in Spanish Retrieved 2007 OCT 10 a b National Geospatial Intelligence Agency 2004 Sector 2 West coast of Baja California In PUB153 Sailing Directions Enroute West Coasts of Mexico amp Central America 10th ed 9 18 ProStar Publications Inc ISBN 1 57785 559 0 a b California Mexico Island Conservation Database 2007 Plant accounts Guadalupe Island Archived 2007 12 08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2007 OCT 10 Thayer John E Bangs Outram 1907 Birds Collected by W W Brown Jr on Cerros San Benito and Natividad Islands in the Spring of 1906 with Notes on the Biota of the Islands PDF Condor 9 3 77 81 doi 10 2307 1361136 hdl 2027 hvd 32044072249907 JSTOR 1361136 28 18 12 N 115 35 24 W 28 30333 N 115 59000 W 28 30333 115 59000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Islas San Benito amp oldid 1157847747, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
